The optimization and regulation of energy consumption for MBR process: A critical review

Membrane bioreactor (MBR) has become one of important biological nitrogen and carbon removal technologies in wastewater treatment field, due to high loading and good sludge-water separation. Under the background of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”, realizing energy-saving and low-consumption operation has become a research hotspot for MBR. Based on the analysis of the advantages and challenges of MBR, this paper reviewed the research progress of MBR in recent years in terms of aeration method, devices optimizations, and dynamic membrane construction, and compared with the traditional MBR on superiority of energy-saving. In addition, the future research priorities were proposed in associating simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process with automatic aeration and dynamic membranes (DM). This review is intended to provide the groundwork for prospective advancement and low energy/carbon application of MBR process. • Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) saved the aeration and carbon demand. • Aeration volume control and device improvements reduced energy consumption of MBR. • Extra energy consumption due to membrane fouling was reduced by dynamic membrane. • The SND in field-scale MBR is needed to regulate to achieve stable efficiency.